Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Wrong-Way Crashes Kill 12 in UK and Ireland
Twelve people died in two serious road crashes in England and Ireland.
The crashes involved cars travelling in the wrong direction on major roads.
Seven people, including two police officers, died near Middlesbrough in England.
Five teenagers died in a separate crash on Ireland's M9 motorway.
Other people were seriously hurt in the Irish crash.
Officials say there have been several similar incidents recently.
They are especially worried that some drivers may be doing this for social media videos.
Police and Ireland's prime minister said this dangerous behavior must stop.
Twelve people died in less than a week in wrong-way crashes in England and Ireland.
Seven people, including two serving police officers, died early Saturday on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
The A66 collision followed a pursuit involving a suspicious vehicle that was travelling on the wrong side.
Five teenagers died Sunday after their car travelled the wrong way on Ireland's M9 motorway.
Authorities warned that some wrong-way driving incidents may be connected to social media and stolen vehicles.
- Who
- Twelve people died, including seven people in England and five teenagers in Ireland; two of the English victims were serving police officers.
- What
- Two wrong-way driving crashes caused the deaths, while authorities warned of a broader social media-linked trend.
- When
- The deaths occurred in less than a week; the English crash happened early Saturday and the Irish crash occurred Sunday.
- Where
- The crashes occurred on the A66 near Middlesbrough in northeastern England and on Ireland's M9 motorway west of Dublin.
- Why
- Authorities said the incidents involved reckless wrong-way driving, and warned that some cases may have been carried out for social media.
- Total deaths
- Twelve people died in less than a week.
- English crash
- Seven people, including two serving police officers, died on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
- Irish crash
- Five teenagers died when their car collided head-on with another vehicle on the M9.
- Injuries
- Four people in the second car in Ireland, including a child, were seriously injured.
- Other incident
- A stolen vehicle carrying teenagers was driven the wrong way on Dublin's M50 motorway about a week earlier.
- Official warning
- Police chief Justin Kelly said some reckless driving incidents were being carried out for social media.